The people calling said that the person claiming to be the owner via a post online told them that he took a new job in Texas and that they could drive by the home to see it. She also got a call from Pinellas County Consumer Protection telling her that her listing had been copied and pasted on Craigslist. She flagged the post on Craiglist for three days before it was taken down. The Pinellas County Consumer Protection Office told us that they flagged the post as well and are still investigating who was behind it.
The county investigators started reviewing rental ads on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace in April and identified 63 fraudulent listings in less than four months. We also spoke with another Tampa Bay realtor who said someone posted one of his properties for rent on Craiglist using a Google Voice phone number. You know the economy is not great right now. So every dollar counts. If caught, charges range from scheming to defraud, impersonation, and grand theft — felonies that could result in prison time.
If you are a victim of a possible scam, report it to your local consumer protection office, attorney general, and FBI. We reached out to Craigslist and Facebook for information on their policies and actions to remove fraudulent listings.
Facebook responded with links to their policies and advice. Click here. Tips for renters from USA. Click here for specific advice from Pinellas County Consumer Protection. Report a typo. News In-Depth. Actions Facebook Tweet Email. Tampa Bay area realtors are fed up with people posting their homes for rent Rental scams are on the rise in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay realtors are fed up with people who are copying their listings and trying to scam renters looking for a home.
By: Stassy Olmos. Jess Rasemont. Copyright Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Morning Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. Click here to manage all Newsletters.
